Severe hailstorm pounds Kashmir, Bandipora worst hit

Srinagar, Oct 8: A severe hailstorm lashed parts of Kashmir on Thursday evening damaging standing crops, orchards and disrupting normal life for some time.
According to reports, Bandipora District in north Kashmir was worst hit.
Residents described the intensity of hailstorm as unusually severe. “It was terrible. The hailstones came down heavily and within minutes the ground was covered with hail,” said Fayaz Ahmad from Bandipora. “Several areas witnessed heavy hail accompanied by gusty winds, causing concern among farmers, particularly those dependent on standing crops and fruit orchards,” he added.
Traffic movement was also affected during the hailstorm, they said.
Heavy hail and strong winds were also reported from parts of Ganderbal, Baramulla and Kupwara districts.
In Kupwara, severe hail and heavy rain were reported to have affected paddy fields and apple orchards, while crop damage was also reported from some areas of Ganderbal.
Rainfall was reported from several other parts of Jammu and Kashmir, while cloudy conditions prevailed over most areas.
The overall extent of damage to crops and orchards in Bandipora, Kupwara and Ganderbal has not yet been officially assessed, and no district-wise loss estimates were immediately available.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness light rain at scattered places over the next two days, with light snowfall possible over higher reaches, the Meteorological Centre said.
The weather is expected to remain partly to generally cloudy on October 9 and 10, with generally dry conditions likely to prevail on October 11 and 12.
A brief spell of light rain is possible at a few places towards the evening of October 9, while another spell of rain may occur towards the evening or night of October 13, the weather office said.
Generally cloudy weather with light rain, light snowfall over higher reaches, thunderstorms and gusty winds is expected at many places on October 14 and 15.
The weather is likely to remain generally dry from October 16 to 18, according to the forecast.
The Meteorological Centre has advised farmers to continue harvesting and ensure safe storage of harvested apples and paddy.
Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 28.2 degrees Celsius, which was 4 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 10.9 degrees Celsius, 3.4 degrees above normal.
Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 31.5 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 20 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam recorded a maximum temperature of 23.6 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 6 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg recorded a maximum temperature of 19 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 6 degrees Celsius, the data showed. (KNO)